Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39318928›Full record

ArticleCureus2024

Demonstrating the Non-inferiority of a Plastic Surgery Microscopic Technique for Hepatic Artery Anastomosis in Pediatric Liver Transplant: A Single-Institution Study.

Emily L Isch, Emily Yanoshak, David Ebbott, Theodore E Habarth-Morales, Mario Aycart, Edward J Caterson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Emily L IschDepartment of General Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA.
Emily YanoshakDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
David EbbottDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
Theodore E Habarth-MoralesDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
Mario AycartDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, USA.
Edward J CatersonDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBefore advancements in liver transplantation, conditions such as acute liver failure, decompensated liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma were associated with poor prognosis. Orthotopic liver transplantation has since emerged as a curative treatment. Despite its benefits, liver transplantation can lead to complications, including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT), which is especially significant in pediatric patients. This study evaluates the utility of microsurgical anastomosis by plastic surgeons in reducing postoperative HAT compared to standard loupe-assisted anastomosis performed by transplant surgeons.

methodsThis retrospective chart review included pediatric patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at a single institution between September 2015 and September 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving standard loupe-assisted anastomosis by transplant surgeons (n = 28) and the other receiving microsurgical anastomosis by plastic surgeons (n = 22). The primary outcomes measured were the rates of HAT. Secondary outcomes included graft survival, patient survival, postoperative hospital stay, resistive indices, bleeding, biliary complications, venous complications, transplant rejection, and reoperation rates.

resultsIn 50 pediatric patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation, we compared outcomes between standard anastomosis (n = 28) and microscope-assisted anastomosis (n = 22). Demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. Hemorrhage occurred significantly more frequently in the standard anastomosis group (35.7%) compared to the microscope-assisted group (9.1%), with a p-value of 0.045. Other complications, including HAT (28.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.306), biliary leak (14.3% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.302), and organ rejection (21.4% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.713), did not differ significantly between the groups. Additionally, survival rates were comparable, with 71% in the standard group and 86% in the microscope group (p = 0.306). These findings suggest that while microscope-assisted anastomosis may reduce the risk of hemorrhage, other outcomes remain similar between the techniques.

conclusionOur findings suggest that microsurgical anastomosis techniques performed by plastic surgeons are non-inferior to standard loupe-assisted techniques in pediatric liver transplantation and may decrease the rate of postoperative hemorrhage. Microsurgical anastomosis is a viable alternative to standard loupe-assisted techniques in pediatric hepatic artery transplants. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize surgical techniques.

Indexed as

donor criteriagraft survivalhepatic artery thrombosisloupe-assisted anastomosismicrosurgical anastomosispediatric liver transplantation

Identifiers

PMID39318928
PMCPMC11421829

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